R15.version1
Date of acquiring: 1st Feb 2009
Odometer reading (current) : 62350 kms
Overall fuel efficiency : 38kmpl
Type of terrain covered - All kinds - from good six lane highways to jungle trails to mountain ranges in Leh- Ladakh.
It's been 3 years since I first laid hands on this machine. I have travelled to numerous places, covering almost entire India, including the ride to Leh-Ladakh -- known as the graduation ride in the biking/touring world. Right from the beginning, people have been criticizing the tyres but I have said this before and I stand by it as firmly as I did the first time - the tyres are wonderfully awesome when it comes to griping the road irrespective of the terrain. The grip is exceptional, everytime you enter a corner, it feels as though the bike is glued to the tar. It was a time when Apache was the new sensation and Zma the ultimate tourer. Both of them very good bikes ,no doubt they were. But this machine entered the segment and increased the benchmark of Indian biking. It had in it, as Yamaha claims, the racing DNA.
Currently the bike has clocked 62,350 kms on odo. It has been a very good ownership experience.
Pros:
- Handling, even today every new bike coming in, has its handling ability compared to the benchmark - the R15
- Good fuel effeciency, the bike has consistently returned a fuel economy of around 38kmpl with the highest being +/- 45kmpl and lowest +/- 32kmpl
- Reliable - never once has the bike thrown any tantrums or unexpected issues
- Tyres - very good even on wet roads
- Light weight - light weight of the bike, makes it easy to control and handle the bike on terrains like leh- ladakh, where you might trip a number of times, ahve to lift the bike up and the weight comes into play.
- decent amount of luggage can be tied up on the backseat with bungee ropes and its stays quiet intact if done properly, leaving good space for the rider to sit comfortably
- the bike was once rammed between a car and a tree in the society parking lot, exhaust, body, rims, brakes damaged, once they were replaced I expected the bike to start giving nimble issues now and then, however, there was not even a single issue coming up after the repairs, the bike continued to be as reliable as before, good durability
Cons:
- Tyres, though they are excellent in grip, the compound used in the tyre is softer than usually seen on India bikes. Softer the compound, better the grip but the tyre life is reduced. The way I use bike for extensive touring, rear tyre for me lasted around 8-10k kms before its started showing hints of loosing grip. Tyres are prone to punctures a lot when they are nearing the 8k mark - however V2 has some changes to the tyres done by MRF. One important point - tyres are always in shortage and its quite a task getting new stock tyres unless you know where exactly to look for them.
- Steering one - I personally think the wear and tear of the steering cone is too frequent, and replacement costs a bomb. It will definitely leave a big hole in your pocket. Though it depends on service centres how much labour to charge, on average a complete steering cone replacement costs with labour around 4k.
-Rims, in my opinion are weak. Considering it is a track tool, the wheels are supposed to be light weight, however for road use (read Indian roads), you hit a pothole at a considerable speed the the rim will either bend or have a crack! Bad! However, good news is, V2 has new rims, so hopefully the problem should have been addressed to.
- Maintenance is on the upper side compared to other Indian bikes, but so is the quality, reliability and performance, so I wouldn't really count it as a negative point.
Overall the bike is in very good shape. Give it a wash and a polish and it shines as good as a new one(sparing the minor scratches on the tank due to my magnetic tank bag). Plastics and body part are firmly in place. No vibrations or noises. Fuel economy is still upto the mark. Reliability is totally intact. I know where to exactly find a new set of stock tyres so that hasn't been an issue at all. You cross the 7k mark on the RPM meter and you still see other vehicles vanishing in the rear view mirror. All the problems/complaints by Indian bikers have been taken into account and Yamaha has tried to make the changes in V2. It has a comparatively wider rear tyre than V1, Yamaha has cut down prices on some parts including brake pads, oil filters, etc. V2 has new tyres from MRF as well. So my opinion is V2 will definitely be better equipped than V1 and you can definitely rely on it.
Posting some pictures of the bike from the numerous rides
At Srinagar, Kashmir
Zozila Pass
On the way to Leh- Ladakh
Srinagar
Magnetic Hill
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